Nicest compliment yet

[Rapheal]

While receiving report on one of my 12 patients the other nurses groaned when they heard "the name". New to nursing (6 months) I had not yet encountered her. She is basically a train wreck and the previous shift is apologizing for not starting her IV or getting ANYTHING done on her. I take it in stride because complaining is not going to change anything and I have got to get moving cause this shift with this patient load is a killer if you do not hit the ground running. Know what I mean?

So 11 hours, 2 IV's, one foley cathater, 2 units PRBC's, two calls to the doctor, 3 explanations on procedures, 2 explanations on tomorrows tests, and advice on how not to get this bad in the future she says "I want to thank you. You are the best nurse I have ever had and I felt safe with you".

And it is for this small reason, even though I hate walking through the doors of that hospital, I will show up for work tomorrow.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

I'm fortunate where I work. Our pts. are ALWAYS telling us how great we are, how much we care. I know it's different because we see them 3x a week for 3-4 hours each, and we have many who have been with us for nearly 10 years... so we're all pretty attached. But even our "new" pts. say the same thing.. today one of our more "dismal" pts. told me "you guys here make me happy.. I look FORWARD to coming to dialysis because you are the best nurses I've ever encountered ANYWHERE." :)

Feels good. I'm sure if I were in a hospital, and our patient turnover was like yours, I wouldn't hear this nearly as much, so for those of you who do, rejoice ! It means a LOT !

[mystc42]

To know that you did all of that (getting IV, catheter, etc.) and not letting the other co-workers giving you a first impression is wonderful and just shows how good of a nurse you are. It makes our job worth it all to hear compliments like that from our patients.

Stay sweet!!

[Rapheal]

Thanks for all the great responses to this thread. It is easy to see that we all love our patients. It doesn't matter if it's the aide, the nurse, the doctor, the resp therapist, the nursing student, ect--at the end of the day we all reflect back on "our patients". We all take ownership in their well being.

Nobody is perfect and I will be the first to admit that I am not. But the healthcare climate is not going to get better anytime soon and things are going to get worse before they get better. So we must all draw strength from each other and respect the good job that we do and the good work of others. I will now get off my soapbox and go to bed cause I am dog tired. Best wishes everyone.

[Liddle Noodnik]

VERY well said, Rapheal!